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SolarWorld Accepted in European DowJones Stoxx 600 Index

The SolarWorld Group has been accepted into the European Dow Jones Stoxx 600 index, effective March 20. The index represents the 600 largest publicly listed European companies measured by market capitalization. SolarWorld AG is listed in the utilities segment. The company also announced it has been selected to provide its solar technology on Neue Messe, a new exhibition center in Freiburg/Breisgau. SolarWorld will supply 1,200 solar modules from for the 254 kW plant.

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NREL Releases Ranking of Leading Utility Green Power Programs

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its annual ranking of leading utility green power programs. Under these voluntary programs, consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources such as solar and wind. More than 600 utilities across the United States now offer these programs. Using information provided by utilities, NREL develops “Top 10” rankings of utility programs in the following categories: total sales of renewable energy to program participants, total number of customer participants, customer participation rate, and the lowest price premium charged for a green pricing service using new renewable resources. Ranked by renewable energy sales, the green power program of Austin (Texas) Energy is first in the nation, followed by Portland General Electric, PacifiCorp, Florida Power & Light, and Sacramento (Calif.) Municipal Utility District. Ranked by customer participation rates, the top utilities are City of Palo Alto (Calif.) Utilities, Lenox (Iowa) Municipal Utilities, Montezuma (Iowa) Municipal Light & Power, Holy Cross Energy (Colo.), and Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Customer choice programs are proving to be a powerful stimulus for growth in renewable energy supply. In 2005, total utility green power sales reached 2.7 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), a 36% […]

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City of Oakland Adopts Zero Waste Goal

The City of Oakland in California has adopted a zero waste goal with a target date of 2020. The Mayor and City Council directed the Public Works Agency, in concert with the Mayor’s Office, to develop a Zero Waste Strategic Plan to achieve the goal. The resolution also specifies the City will partner with other Zero Waste local, regional and international communities and sustainability advocates to actively pursue and advocate for strategies and incentives to advance Zero Waste principles for materials management, system re-design, highest and best use of discarded products and materials, and a closed-loop sustainable production and consumption society. The resolution says: WHEREAS, Zero Waste principles promote the highest and best use of materials to eliminate waste and pollution, emphasizing a closed-loop system of production and consumption, moving in logical increments toward the goal of zero waste through the core principles of: . Improving ‘downstream’ reuse/recycling of end-of-life products and materials to ensure their highest and best use; . Pursuing ‘upstream’ re-design strategies to reduce the volume and toxicity of discarded products and materials, and promote low-impact or reduced consumption lifestyles; . Fostering and supporting use of discarded products and materials to stimulate and drive local economic and […]

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